Middle Ages & Trade Innovations

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Questions and Answers

Who was appointed by King Henry VI of France to govern the French settlement in North America?

Jacques Cartier

Etienne Brule

John Nicollet

Samuel de Champlain (correct)

What was the primary focus of French explorers in Canada during this period?

Searching for gold

Finding the Northwest Passage

Fur trade (correct)

Establishing permanent settlements

Which native word did the French adapt to name their territory Canada?

Kanata (correct)

Iroquois

Huron

Algonquin

What was the fate of the Lost English Colony established by Sir Walter Raleigh?

The colony was abandoned Signup and view all the answers

Which body of water did John Nicollet explore?

Lake Michigan Signup and view all the answers

Which explorer is credited as the first European to see the Mississippi River?

Hernando de Soto Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first European to lay claim to California?

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Signup and view all the answers

Which significant area did Francisco Vasquez de Coronado claim for Spain?

American Southwest Signup and view all the answers

What major milestone is associated with Pedro Menedez de Aviles?

Built a fort in Florida, St. Augustine Signup and view all the answers

What motivates European countries to explore the East Coast of North America?

To find a shorter route to Asia Signup and view all the answers

What was John Cabot primarily hoping to find during his voyage?

Asian goods for trade Signup and view all the answers

Which area did Giovanni da Verrazzano explore during his journey?

New York Harbor Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of Cabot's exploration?

Finding a large fishing resource Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Henry Hudson during one of his voyages?

He was abandoned by his crew Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of Henry Hudson's exploration for the Dutch East India Company?

Find a shorter route to Asia Signup and view all the answers

On his exploration, what valuable resource did Verrazzano find in Brazil?

Dyes for textiles Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to John Cabot's disappearance during his voyage?

A large storm Signup and view all the answers

Why did Hudson conclude that the river he discovered did not lead to a Northwest Passage?

It was too shallow and freshwater Signup and view all the answers

What was one consequence of the Spanish bringing new plants and animals from the Americas to Europe?

Improved nutritional health leading to population growth Signup and view all the answers

Which explorer is credited with being the first Spanish explorer to land in what is now the United States?

Juan Ponce de Leon Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the Columbian Exchange for the native populations of the Americas?

High mortality due to diseases brought by Europeans Signup and view all the answers

Why did Cortes initially take Moctezuma prisoner?

To gain access to gold and riches Signup and view all the answers

What advantage did the Spanish have over the Inca Empire during their conquest?

Advanced weaponry including guns Signup and view all the answers

What fate did Atahualpa, the Inca emperor, meet during Pizarro's conquest?

He was executed after a deceitful deal Signup and view all the answers

What impact did horses have on the native way of life after their introduction by the Spanish?

They revolutionized how natives hunted buffalo Signup and view all the answers

What were the conditions that led to the decline of the Taino population?

European diseases and enslavement Signup and view all the answers

What was Hernan Cortes’ ultimate objective during his expedition?

To conquer the Aztec Empire and find riches Signup and view all the answers

What was Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's fate during his expedition?

He was shipwrecked and landed in Texas Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason European explorers sought new trade routes during the Age of Exploration?

To find alternative routes to Asia avoiding Muslim territories Signup and view all the answers

Which technological advancement helped sailors determine latitude?

Astrolabe Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the carrack ship developed in Genoa?

For long voyages across the ocean Signup and view all the answers

How did the Printing Press contribute to the Age of Exploration?

It spread news of explorers' discoveries Signup and view all the answers

What significant voyage did Christopher Columbus undertake in 1492?

Crossing the Atlantic to find a route to the East Indies Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Columbus's first voyage?

He encountered the Taino people and named the land San Salvador Signup and view all the answers

Which invention allowed for more accurate timekeeping at sea?

Chronometer Signup and view all the answers

Who sponsored Columbus's voyage in hopes of establishing new trade routes?

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain Signup and view all the answers

What event is referred to as Reconquista in Spain?

The violent retaking of land from North African rule Signup and view all the answers

Which explorer named the Pacific Ocean during his expedition?

Ferdinand Magellan Signup and view all the answers

The term 'New World' refers to what region in the context of exploration?

The Americas Signup and view all the answers

What did the Europeans want from their voyages beyond just new trade routes?

Expansion of their territories Signup and view all the answers

What geographical feature did the Silk Road connect?

Europe and Asia Signup and view all the answers

Which explorer is credited with realizing that the lands discovered by Columbus were part of a new continent?

Amerigo Vespucci Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the Age of Exploration is true?

Technological advancements significantly improved navigation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Middle Ages & The Silk Road

Middle Ages was the period between ancient and modern times.
During this time, Europeans rarely traveled far from home.
European merchants traded for gems, silks, and spices from China and East Indies (Islands off Southeast Asia).
They traded through the Silk Road, a route that went through the Middle East, where traders purchased Chinese silk.
In 1453, the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), cutting off most European trade through the Middle East.

Technological Advances

Astrolabe - Measures the position of the stars in the sky to help determine latitude (how far north or south of the equator)
Compass - A magnetic arrow that points north and was invented in China.
Stern Rudder - Hung off the stern (back of the ship) and was used by the Chinese.
The Printing Press - Invented by Johannes Gutenberg (German) and used movable type to print text, which helped mass-produce printed material cheaply.
Carrack - A 3 or 4 masted sailing ship developed in the Italian city of Genoa that was strong and useful on long voyages.

Age of Exploration

European explorers wanted to reach China and the East Indies.
The Spanish were searching for a new trade route to Asia that was not through the Middle East, in order to trade for Chinese silk and other goods.

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus from Genoa, Italy convinced Spain, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, to pay for his trip across the Atlantic Ocean.
Columbus thought he reached East Indies when he spotted land in October 1492, but he didn't.
He called the land San Salvador (now part of the Bahamas).
He sailed to the Americas 4 times, establishing a Spanish colony called Hispaniola.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Discovered a passage west of the Americas (1513) and Ferdinand Magellan named it Pacific Ocean.
Magellan died trying to sail around the world, but Elcano completed his trip, proving the earth is round.

The Columbian Exchange

The trading of plants, animals, culture, ideas, etc, between Europeans and native people of the Americas.
The Spanish brought back new plants from the Americas, which helped to reduce starvation in Europe and improve people's health.
The Spanish brought new things to the Americas, changing native cultures and ways of life, such as horses which they used to hunt buffalo.

Spanish Exploration and Conquest

Juan Ponce de Leon, the first Spanish explorer to land in what is now the United States, called the land La Florida, but found no gold or fountain of youth.
Hernan Cortes, a Spanish conquistador, conquered the Aztec empire in central Mexico.
Cortes used his army, horses, and native allies to conquer the Aztecs and built Mexico City on Aztec ruins, eventually renaming it Nueva Espana (New Spain).
Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, conquered the Inca empire in the Andes Mountains and captured the Inca emperor, Atahualpa.
Pizarro's army was more advanced because they possessed guns, which the Incan weapons couldn't compete with.

The Search for a Northwest Passage

The English, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Swedes explored the East Coast of North America, searching for a waterway known as the Northwest Passage.
John Cabot reached Newfoundland, Canada, hoping to trade for Asian goods but found no one to trade with.
Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the Atlantic coast, including New York Harbor and the Hudson River.
Henry Hudson worked for the Dutch East India Company and sailed up a river now named after him, the Hudson River.
He determined that it did not lead to a Northwest Passage.

Founding of New France

Jacques Cartier explored Canada, including the St. Lawrence River.
Samuel de Champlain founded the colony of Quebec City and expanded fur trade with the native tribes.
The French rulers were disappointed that they didn't find the Northwest Passage or gold, so they refocused on the fur trade.

The Lost English Colony

Sir Walter Raleigh established the first English colony in North America on Roanoke Island.
The settlement, known as the Lost Colony, disappeared in 1590.

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Description

Explore the Middle Ages and the impact of the Silk Road on trade between Europe and Asia. Learn about the technological advances such as the astrolabe, compass, and printing press that shaped exploration and communication during this era.